Sepp Blatter deserves Nobel Prize for FIFA work, Russia's Vladimir Putin says

Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Russian president Vladimir Putin and FIFA president Sepp Blatter open proceedings at the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Singer Polina Gagarina and conductor Valery Gergiev perform at the ceremony to mark the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
FIFA official Christian Unger plays his part in Saturday's draw.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Putin and Blatter (back right) have forged a close relationship. The Swiss has led FIFA since 1998 but decided to stand down on June 2 as football's world governing body battled two corruption scandals.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Visiting FIFA officials have been made to feel welcome at the Konstantin Palace.
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